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File Photo - Igor Zehl/Czech News Agency/Press Association Images

Armed men seize Ukraine regional government buildings, hoist Russian flags

Up to 50 men with weapons marched into the buildings in the Crimea region overnight. Regional leaders have said they will “take measures”.

PRO-RUSSIAN ARMED MEN have seized control of parliament and government buildings in the Ukrainian region of Crimea, raising Russian flags above them.

Up to 50 men with weapons marched into the buildings during the night, hoisted Russian flags on top and were blocking government workers from entering, Crimean prime minister Anatoliy Mohilyov told AFP.

Local authorities were preparing to “take measures”, Mohilyov said without adding any more details.

“We ask government workers not to come to work today,” the regional government said in a statement.

Dozens of men in full combat dress but without any markings of affiliation marched into the government and parliament buildings earlier in the morning and removed the guards without any fight, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency quoted sources in parliament as saying.

It said that they gained entrance to the building complex by firing on the glass doors but no-one was hurt.

The move came amid concerns of growing separatism on the overwhelmingly pro-Russian peninsula on the Black Sea after the ousting of pro-Moscow president Viktor Yanukovych.

The head of the local assembly for Crimea’s Muslim Tatar minority — which is fearful of any pro-Russian separatist moves — confirmed that the buildings had been seized.

“I was told that the buildings of the Crimean Verkhovna Rada (parliament) and the Crimean Council of Ministers (government) are occupied by armed men in uniform without identification signs,” Refat Chubarov wrote on Facebook.

“They have not put forward any demands yet.”

Unconfirmed news reports said that the buildings were being controlled by Russian-speaking militia groups formed by the local population.

Many in Crimea, which is overwhelmingly Russian rather than Ukrainian speaking, strongly oppose the takeover of Ukraine by pro-EU and anti-Kremlin forces.

- © AFP, 2014

Read: Unity government to be formed in Kiev, as US stops just short of endorsing interim leader

Read: Russia withdraws ambassador from Kiev as stand-off with Western powers deepens

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    Mute ispycoffee
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    Jul 24th 2015, 6:33 PM

    I feel sick just reading this.

    462
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    Mute Brendan McGill
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    Jul 24th 2015, 7:38 PM

    60 Minutes Australia: Special Investigation Spies…: https://youtu.be/TGwTeR8Y8Qw

    55
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    Mute Eamonn O'Riain
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    Jul 25th 2015, 7:51 AM

    There once was a country called Pakistan . . . . .

    23
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    Mute Mick McGuinness
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    Jul 24th 2015, 6:51 PM

    Let’s hope they all get locked up for a long time and that it hits home in the Asian community that their men cannot get away with this type of disgusting behaviour. Of course I will probably be called racist by saying the above but that’s my opinion.

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    Mute David HIggins
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    Jul 24th 2015, 8:12 PM

    Just like it hit home in the Irish Catholic community that their priests cannot get away with this type of disgusting behaviour….

    107
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    Mute Grot Master
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    Jul 24th 2015, 8:50 PM

    Presumably you meant Irish Catholic Church rather than “…Irish Catholic community…”?

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    Mute Kevin Slater
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    Jul 24th 2015, 10:32 PM

    No Mick you’re right. They are all savages and their should not be tolerated in western society. This seems to be common behaviour in Asia and the Middle East but we are not allowd to criticise it as this is their culture. This is tolerated in Britain because all the social workers are like rabbits in the headlights, paralysed by a political correctness that prohibits them from calling this behaviour wrong and criminal

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    Mute Ben Redline
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    Jul 24th 2015, 6:38 PM

    There’s something that links these men – just can’t put my finger on it, suggestions anyone?

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    Mute Paul Roche
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    Jul 24th 2015, 7:48 PM

    None of them were players in British 1980s Conservative politics?

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    Mute Larry L'Oiseau
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    Jul 24th 2015, 9:51 PM

    None of them has ‘John Bull’ in his name ??

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    Mute John Hazelnut
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    Jul 24th 2015, 10:44 PM

    You make an interesting point there, Paul Roche. :)

    In mid-1980s Ireland, it was said that One in Four children were sexually abused.

    I suspect that what Ben Redline can’t put his finger on what links these men is that….they were only the ones who got caught, (or at least the ones we get to know about).

    I’m still thinking about the mid-1980s, and might write a bit more….hmmm…

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    Mute Jackie Jones
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    Jul 24th 2015, 10:53 PM

    they’ll

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    Mute John Hazelnut
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    Jul 24th 2015, 11:20 PM

    …I’ve been thinking more about the mid-1980s, Paul, and I recall some children’s names who were victims of Child Abuse, which were frequently mentioned on UK TV at the time.

    I remember the names of Jasmine Beckford, Tyra Henry, Kimberly Carlile. There were others, whose names I can’t remember, but they all had died at the hands of their parents, and I remember they were widely mentioned on UK TV news reports at the time.

    In fact, I could swear I remember one British female news reporter in 1984/1985 listing out the names of 10 girls who had died in the past year at the hands of their parents, but I can’t remember them except for the above 3, and she also mentioned Maria Colwell.

    I found it strange that no boy victims were mentioned.

    I’ve read that 1 child a week dies at the hands of their parents in the UK, (presumably pro-rata in Ireland), but we don’t seem to hear much about this.

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    Mute Abdul Ahmed
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    Jul 24th 2015, 6:38 PM

    Disgusting.

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    Mute von
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    Jul 24th 2015, 6:44 PM

    Shoot the bast..ds. We should not let them into Europe, and thats sad because a lot of these are good people.

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    Mute Anthony Lang
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    Jul 24th 2015, 7:42 PM

    If the perpetrators are born in Britain and with British passports, as appears to be the case, your suggestion is futile and fails to address the perpetrators.

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    Mute Bill Madden
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    Jul 24th 2015, 9:02 PM

    @ anthony , it’s interesting they didn’t target “good” Asian girls though……

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    Mute Anthony Lang
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    Jul 24th 2015, 9:25 PM

    Less opportunity because young Asian girls and women have considerably less personal freedom and are more subject to parental restriction than other ethnic groups.

    The predominant racial group involved in sexual violence against women are Caucasian but that is nit a causal factor.

    21
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    Mute Larry L'Oiseau
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    Jul 24th 2015, 9:52 PM

    Anthony,
    can you cite your source please.

    33
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    Mute Lasair Aireáinnach
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    Jul 24th 2015, 10:23 PM

    Have seen Anthony spread his bile and has no problem attacking Christianity for the wrongdoings of the minority of depraved individuals who behaved unChristian. But anything non-European or non-Christian and he defends it all day, you have here in Anthony a person who hates Europeans and European culture.

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    Mute Jerry Adams
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    Jul 24th 2015, 6:55 PM

    if they were asian girls there would be big protests

    133
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    Mute Rob O'Brien
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    Jul 24th 2015, 7:20 PM

    Was just thinking that if it were white men doing this specifically to Asian or black girls there would be a mass hysteria

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    Mute Anthony Lang
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    Jul 24th 2015, 7:38 PM

    Because the victims were young and vulnerable, there is fully justified outrage. It would be equally appalling if the victims were black, Asian or any other race.

    The conduct of the perpetrators was appalling and revolting and that is so regardless of race, ethnicity or religion.

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    Mute Mike McAllen
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    Jul 24th 2015, 8:39 PM

    True. But the preponderance of Asian men involved in these cases is significant and warrants particular scrutiny.

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    Mute Anthony Lang
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    Jul 24th 2015, 9:20 PM

    The common factor amongst the perpetrators is that they are male. That merits real scrutiny.

    It is lazy, facile, unscientific and invalid to try to Palm off the responsibility on to a particulat ethnic or racial group but your defective thinking is not an uncommon cognitive error.

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    Mute Anthony Lang
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    Jul 24th 2015, 9:22 PM

    As a matter of culture and religious value, You g Asian girls and young Asian women tend to have less personal freedom, closer parental scrutiny and so less exposed to predatory males, regardless of race or ethnicity.

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    Mute Larry L'Oiseau
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    Jul 24th 2015, 9:55 PM

    Maybe you have hit on something there Anthony in relation to the perpetrators backgrounds and cultural constraints too if they are from the same community…

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    Mute Lasair Aireáinnach
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    Jul 24th 2015, 10:28 PM

    Here we have Anthony equivocating and trying to be an apologist for anything non-European. For example he tries to divert attention from the fact that all these monsters are from Southwest Asia, and are muslims. Instead he says, no, no, that is not the common factor, no people, forget that, instead the common factor is that they are male.

    Anthony why not just say, the common factor is that they happen to be humans, it is just as bland a defining factor while nicely covering up and apologising for that non-European community, which is what you are here for.

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    Mute Jackie Jones
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    Jul 24th 2015, 11:10 PM

    Not necessarily!!!! lack of integration outside there own community is the biggest threat nobody will ever find out, until the girls speak out!!! documentary on channel 4 catch up, Pakistans hidden shame,Pakistani men just pounce on the vulnerable no matter who they are or what sex they are or what age they are!!

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    Mute Ben Flanagan
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    Jul 25th 2015, 8:26 AM

    @Lasair – where does it say they’re Muslim?

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    Mute Matt Donovan
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    Jul 24th 2015, 7:57 PM

    n top of Rotherham perhaps it’s time to acknowledge the elephant in the room let alone confront it. But no, the dreaded ‘R’ word will be thrown out to silence or at least stifle the truth.

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    Mute Anthony Lang
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    Jul 24th 2015, 7:59 PM

    The cause of sexual exploitation is not race or ethnicity, it is misogyny and male violence.

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    Mute Mike McAllen
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    Jul 24th 2015, 8:44 PM

    But when it’s happening to such an unusual degree in a particular ethnic community, questions have to be asked as to why the misogyny and male violence to which you refer is so prevalent in that community.

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    Mute Anthony Lang
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    Jul 24th 2015, 9:18 PM

    Mike, you are confused. We don’t link Caucasians to sexual violence even though sexual violence my male Caucasians is not uncommon. You are drawing invalid inferences.

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    Mute Lasair Aireáinnach
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    Jul 24th 2015, 10:21 PM

    Anthony

    Actually the cause in this case has everything to do with the culture of the criminals. All races, ethnicities or cultures have done this crime, however you will find some do it far more than others, as Mike said, it is far more prevalent in these peoples cultures. It is people like you who covered this up for so long that allowed so many young girls to be brutalised by these monsters. You are an excuser for anything non-white, I have seen the bile and bs, the lies and excuses you write to cover up and excuse symptomatic cultural atrocities. Shame on you.

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    Mute John Curry
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    Jul 25th 2015, 8:55 AM

    And this flood of filth is slowly coming closer to our shores.

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    Mute Louise Ní Riain
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    Jul 24th 2015, 7:27 PM

    sick just sick, shouldn’t have read it, what’s wrong with people!

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    Mute graham galvin
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    Jul 24th 2015, 9:06 PM

    People have known about that for years yet were called “conspiracy theorists”. Brussels is supposed to be one of the biggest paedophile cities in the world. Makes me wonder why the EU set up parliament there?

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    Mute West Cork Lad
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    Jul 24th 2015, 9:20 PM

    You don’t have to go as far as Brussels to find pedophile rings. Just go to mass lad !

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    Mute kenobi :)
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    Jul 24th 2015, 9:27 PM

    Look at the names of the convicted.

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    Mute Beachmaster
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    Jul 24th 2015, 7:07 PM

    Where’s the online outrage by the perpetually outraged I wonder.

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    Mute J. Dunn
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    Jul 24th 2015, 8:12 PM

    It doesn’t suit the one-sided narrative delivered from the crystal palace.

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    Mute Ronandusty
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    Jul 24th 2015, 9:13 PM

    Hey guess what word is missing from the article? 6 letters. Ends in M. Cant mention it though cos you’ll be branded a racist by net handwringers. There are massive problems within that religion (I said within, not with ) to do with their treatment of women. Ignoring them wont make them go away.

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    Mute Seamus Banna
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    Jul 24th 2015, 10:03 PM

    Religion has bollocks all to do with sex crimes. Are you telling me that there are no atheist sex offenders? Every pimp and rapist is a regular goer to mass, mosque, synagogue and temple?

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    Mute Ronandusty
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    Jul 24th 2015, 10:27 PM

    You didnt even read what I said did you.

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    Mute Mac Ready
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    Jul 24th 2015, 10:11 PM

    Muslim men again targeting white girls who are seen as fair game for these sick peados!

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    Mute Richard boyle
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    Jul 25th 2015, 7:38 AM

    Singh isn’t a Muslim name

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    Mute Ben Flanagan
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    Jul 25th 2015, 8:29 AM

    Where does it say they’re Muslim?

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    Mute Anthony Lang
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    Jul 24th 2015, 7:27 PM

    Race and ethnicity are irrelevant.

    Sexual exploitation of women by men happens in all cultures.

    Even white Roman Catholic clergy have been known to be perpetrators. White politicians have been known to be perpetrators.

    So, let us decry what these men have done to these vulnerable girls and be more careful about preventing such appalling and despicable abuse.

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    Mute Le Tigre
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    Jul 24th 2015, 8:06 PM

    “Race and ethnicity are irrelevant”

    Not to these guys. That’s how they selected victims and justified these acts. It’s their motivation. You may as well say that race and ethnicity are irrelevant to Dylan Roof

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    Mute graham galvin
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    Jul 24th 2015, 9:07 PM

    Anthony you know little boys get abused too?

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    Mute Anthony Lang
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    Jul 24th 2015, 9:27 PM

    Graham, true, young boys are often abused, as confirmed by the SAVI Report and certain members of the White Irish Roman Catholic clergy have been involved in that abuse.

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    Mute Seamus Banna
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    Jul 24th 2015, 10:12 PM

    Anthony sexual exploitation of women by women also happens in all cultures but it seems to be something that people don’t want to know about. There were 11 people for trafficking women recently of which 4 were women. http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jul/16/trafficking-gang-that-sexually-exploited-hundreds-of-women-jailed. The madams that run brothels seem to get suspended sentences while the heavy sentences are given to men. What needs to happen is that sentencing should be offence based and not gender based. If someone is trafficked for sexual exploitation then the law truly has to be blind when it comes to sentencing.

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    Mute Jerry Adams
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    Jul 24th 2015, 7:47 PM

    wacky rapists

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    Mute Charles Rex
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    Jul 24th 2015, 11:13 PM

    I sincerely hope these animals get locked away forever.

    18
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    Mute Anthony Lang
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    Jul 24th 2015, 7:57 PM

    The 2004 SAVI Report in Ireland shows a high incidence of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of under aged and vulnerable people in Ireland. As an Irish person, this is of concern to me.

    We don’t see a lot of mainstream commentary on the SAVI Report in Ireland.

    17
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